Parties, Parties, Parties!

 It seems from mid-May until this weekend we have been in party overload.  Our parties started with the end of the semester celebration at Elena's school.  Can you believe she's about to start pre-school?  You know time is flying when it's just another two short years and she'll be starting kindergarten.  They really do grow fast.  The above picture is Elena with her friend Tevin at the school play yard.

At Ryan's birthday party (green flip-flops) the kids had ice cream cones instead of cake/cupcakes.  Adults put a scoop of ice cream in the cone, then the kids rolled the cones in toppings.  The kids loved telling us what toppings they had.  Can you see the tunnel in the background?  Kids and parents assembled boxes into tunnels.  It was complete with turns, sky lights and kids painting/decorating the exterior.

 Elena with her boy friends: Jonah, Bennett, Ryan and Eammon.  Her friends are primarily these boys though she has two girl friends: Selah and Maral.

 Last weekend we went to Jacob's 1st birthday party (no pics) and Arthur's 3rd / Oliver's 5th birthday party.  It was located in a great neighborhood park.  This structure is like an inch worm, it moved up and down as the kids moved.  Not a very good picture of the kids but from left to right: Reagan, Claire, Matthew, Norah, Elena.

Elena and Norah checking out the Jeep someone brought.  It was a great time had by all!

We're a bit worn out from the last 3 weekends: 1) traveling to Arizona, then 2) a wedding and birthday party and 3) last weekend two more birthday parties.  This weekend we're just enjoying some time at the house with each other and maybe an outing to the beach tomorrow, if the weather warms up.  It has been unseasonable cool here lately which is great for the garden but chilly for the beach.  Wishing all the fathers out there a great weekend and a wonderful father's day!

Trip to Arizona

We had another successful road trip to Arizona to visit parents and grandparents.  The long weekends aren't quite enough time but we cherish the time we do get to visit.  Elena is a great road tripper and I'm glad she finally mastered her "going potty in public restrooms" skill.  Elena has been day time potty trained for over a year but she doesn't like public restrooms--she'll hold it for the 7.5-8 hours it takes us to drive to Prescott.  Needless to say by the time we arrive she really has to go and arrives with a tummy ache.

 We took a walk around the Highland Center with docent Donna :)  Elena loved learning about the habitats and animals that live in them.

 We also spent some time at the park.  Above is Elena's first try at the monkey bars.  She held on well but that was about the extent of her monkeying around :)

 She still loves swings (bucket or sling)--can you tell?  And I love taking pictures of her swinging.

 Being goofy with Grandpa on the blue seal!

 Playing dinos on the rocks.  Elena built caves and homes for the dinos with Grandma and Daddy.  Check out Carl's shades, he's rocking Elena's Dora glasses.  Silly Daddy!

Grandparents and grandkids.  Saying good bye is always hard...but we're looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Our New Pool!

 We are the proud owners of a 5' pool, of kiddie proportions :)

 

 I was out running errands and ran into a hard plastic pool, I just couldn't resist.  I can not believe how much Elena is enjoying the pool.  We should have invested in one of these years ago.  Yesterday Elena splashed in the pool and today we hooked the pool up to the slide for even more fun.

In her dare devil attitude, Elena pushes her limits on the slide--she really wants to come down head first.  We're firm, slides are feet first always.

It's nice having the pool but now I'm wishing we had a big backyard pool. :)

Birthday at the Beach!

Happy Birthday, Carl!

 As a part of the birthday festivities, we went to the Coronado Beach.  No excursion to the beach is complete without a pit for Elena to jump into and sand castles.

 Aside from a few clouds that blocked the sun for 10 minutes, the weather was perfect.  I'm glad we had sweatshirts because when the clouds block the sun and the wind blows over the cold ocean, it gets chilly!

 On to wet/drippy sand castles.  I think these are Carl's favorite type of sand castle.  He's trying to teach Elena how to make them.

 It's time to be a kid again ;)  Carl's teaching Elena how to jump into the puddles. 

 I'm surprised this picture turned out.

 Just our little cutie playing in the shallow surf.

 Looks like Carl picked up the camera and snapped a shot of us checking out something.

The masterpiece.  Just moments after I captured this photo the tide knocked it down.

Fun with Cousins

 Elena and I are here in Illinois on a girls trip!  She was a great flier again, though I credit the kindle this time.  After all the trips we've made, I finally had enough to redeem a free ticket for us both one way.  I was actually able to upgrade us to priority seats--for American I think that would be business or coach plus, maybe.  We didn't have to pay extra for our bag, we were directed down the 1st class security line and our seats had extra leg room--all for $5.  Amazing!!

 Elena was happy to see everyone and was excited to play with her cousins. 

The first night they played with remote control cars.

 Then together made a crash pad. It was full of pillows and blankets.
All three took turns diving and flipping on the pile.

It's so cute to see cousins playing so well together!

Elena's 3rd Birthday!

Happy birthday, sweet Elena!

We had a simple family-style party, just a relaxing play date for the kids.  Pop & Lorraine came over and Elena invited her friends Claire and Mallory and their families.  The weather was perfect, Carl grilled out on the bbq and of course we had cake. 

We played outside....
with balls, checking out lady bugs and other bugs and climbing on the play toy

and inside.

 The Moms relaxed and the Dads played croquet out back.

 Elena had such fun and enjoyed her birthday song...
(to the left is Mallory, 5, and to the right is Claire, 4)

though she did get a little bashful :)

 (Daddy blew out the candles)

Lots of love to all of our family and friends from our home to yours!

Mission Trail Park

I guess I'm making up for lost time, as I have another entry today :)  This morning we went to Mission Trails Park, it is a nature preserve near our neighborhood.  Cooper loves to go, though it is a leash only park.  Elena loves to go running along the trail.  When we drive by the coastal mountains in the park, she tells me she wants to hike to the top.  She's in training and learning to scale everything including the scroll work our security door.

 With all the rain recently, the flowers are still in bloom.

 Off and running.  Elena loves running on the trail.

 

Checking for baby tadpoles in the pond.  It only has water during the rainy season.  Though April starts our dry season, it just rained Friday.

My hiking crew!

Play date :)

For nearly every day of the past month, Elena has been asking for a play date.  Sometimes she wants to have friends over or go to their home or have a picnic.  She has a few friends from school and daughters of my friends that she always asks to see.  Today, Claire came over with her little sister Norah and in Elena speak "Ms. Geet" (aka as Galit).

 All three girls had a great time.  I forgot to take pictures while they were playing...so I took a few before they left.  Below they are busy tickling each other with toes.  Norah was giggling as the big girls were gentle.

Garden Inspection

 Look at these two mischievous faces....what are they are up to?

Checking out the garden...

and picking lettuce to munch!  Yummy!

School Pictures {Tease}

The Children's Center has student photos every year in March.  I was surprised when Elena's teacher said she was a ham in front of the camera.  She usually won't take a nice picture for me or her teacher but you can see she was super happy to take pictures.  These photos are copywrite protected, so please do not attempt printing.  We have to order more pictures but I couldn't resist sharing with you until then.

The pictures printed from the studio look much better than my version...but this just a tease after all ;)

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

Dominoes and blueberry scones with Pop-Pop and Grandma Lorraine!

 Easter egg hunt!  The first one.  I think she's had a dozen hunts--this was a big hit last year too.

 This is the first time I have seen this "cheese" smile.  What a character!

 Elena was so excited for her jellybeans!

A caterpillar was trapped in a pot dish.  He was rescued and Elena just wanted to hold him.  She was so excited.  Elena and Daddy placed him in the shade with lots of weeds to munch.